jonathanA

Incomer RCDs tend to come in 40/63/80A versions. The incoming wiring/connector will be protected by the 'bollard' or equivalent for shore lines - usually a mximum of 16A mcb possibly as little as 5 or 6 Amps though. Point is its the upstream device that needs to be sized accordingly. The main point of the RCD in these installations is for earth leakage detection,

you would need to think about what your 'AC' system should look like. will you have shore power now or in the future ? will you want to hook up a generator ? If you don't know or just need a 'basic' system to get you going using an inverter or shorepower only then look for a 'garage' type consumer unit with a main RCD and space for 2 MCBs. I would recommend a 16A MCB for your sockets and a 6A for 'anything else' even if you don't know what that is yet. This is what a typical garage/shed consumer unit will come with and they can be had for around £25 from the usual suspects. You can worry about complicating the set up to accomodate shore power/generators etc in the future Its worth looking at these pages for some idea of the issues around AC systems I doubt any book on boat fitting comes near these pages for authoritive design information. http://www.smartgauge.co.uk/nb_ac_sys.html

so thats cheap LEDs and cheap inverters that are likely to spontaneously combust.... The reality is that a cheaper device MAY contain inferior components or be of a 'lower standard' however you define that, but properly installed and protected by appropriate fuses/circuit breakers I can't see how these pose any greater fire risk than a 'better unit'. I think I'm with Dave _p unless you need to run something exotic like a very fancy hi-fi system then I would not pay the extra for a pure sine wave over a quasi/msw inverter.

think its all been covered but just to add... when I change the filter on my LPSW4 I never fill the new filter with diesel - just how would I do that ? Practically its not terribly easy to do so i don't bother just means I have to operate the lift pump lever a few more times I suppose but it doesn't take a much anyway. There is also a gauze filter on the lift pump - very easy to get at - undo the bolt on top and take the cover off, inspect/clean the gauze filter and replace cover and bolt.

no coincidence that the only reference to leds catching fire is on sites selling them at £10+ out and out scaremongering plain and simple otherwise agree its up to the individual whether he wants to pay for a 'name' or take a punt on cheapos form ebay. ebay every time for me....

do bear in mind if you have a couple of phone/laptop chargers plugged in but nothing connected they will be using a small amount power which will cause the inverter to switch on (rather than be in standby mode) even if you are not charging anything. make sure you either unplug the chargers or switch off at the socket. (or switch the inverter off when not in use ) Same applies if you have any 'wall wart' power adapters for radios, TV's etc, they consume a small ammount of power to be on standby and it all adds up....

I know the feeling I'd like to get back to our mooring before the winter frosts arrive - which is looking unlikley now. good luck selling the boat Richard.

yes and I bet they come wrapped in plastic and cardboard and cost considerably more than CPC's 17p+VAT - but good that they have them.

Tim, you could use one of these from CPC. http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/level5/module.jsp?moduleId=cpc/264244.xml Theres a F or coax version or one with one of each ( I use the co-ax for TV and the F type for Sat. ) Its very hard to find F type Extender cables (i.e male one end female t'other. ) the trick is to use a back to back male like this : http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/level5/module.jsp?moduleId=cpc/648811.xml I'm not a big fan of F connectors mainly because you need to match the connector and cable (for physical size) carefully but all those satellite installers can't be wrong...

so if its a relatively new sterling (less than 18 months according to the OP's post) then it does have a standby option via a switch on the unit allowing control via the remote control. i.e off (properly off) on or remote (switched on/off by remote control so taking some very small standby current). I can't see how any of the symptoms described by the OP could be a result of low battery voltage/insufficent charging as the inverter would bleep if the battery voltage was too low and stop working until power cycled (at least thats what all the inverters I've seen do). this sounds more like the overheating issue mentioned earlier or a fault with the internal doings. Edited for clarity

and make sure you have removed the transit strap inside the machine otherwise it will probably leap overboard....

IIRC when we passed a few weeks ago it looked like there were a couple of boats being fitted out at botany bay. I'd be surprised if they had the facilities to make thier own shells there but I don't know what you need other than a welder and gas axe. botany bay boatyard is run by Karl Heywood and he seems a decent chap so might be worth giving him a ring before you go any further.

good grief - so L&L open for what nearly 72 hours between stoppages.... That will please anyone heading that way for the burnley festival this weekend..

I've had more problems in the last few months than in all the years I've been using it. I detest Ebay and Paypal and try to use gumtree and preloved instead whenever possible. They are awful when there is a problem and the much paraded 'protection' they claim is very limited. That said its success makes it hard to ignore and like anything I think you have to be careful and have your eyes wide open at all times.

I did speak to CRT this morning who said that blackburn locks had re-opened - tried to post it separately but it got tagged on to an earlier post... great confirmation from Nigel on the ground (I hope not literally given the low water)

I don't want to turn the thread into having a go at silsden - its not just about locks though is it ? I don't think its reasonable to do nothing either - do you ? - the director my wife was speaking to was completely unaware of the poor reputation the company have on the L&L and in fairness it was something they said they would want to address, which is fair enough if they do try to improve things. I rang CRT a few minutes ago and according to lady I spoke to the canal is now open at blackburn, (although she didn't sound entirely sure.... )

Speaking to another boater this evening he said blackburn locks were now open and he'd spoken to someone who had come through today. I'd left it too late to ring CRT for confirmation and there has been no update on waterscape.

Haven't Niffany Farm just expanded ? (just outside skipton) - no idea whether they have any spaces nor who 'runs' the moorings but assumed they were private ? ETA - what about the marina at applerly bridge ? I think the same company also has some offside moorings at shipley (a bit run down if memory serves!)

I think that was partly what I was suggesting in my OP.. from experience of having a belt go in the middle of no where and not having a spare I know that an automotive 4pk900 or 4pk920 will fit my engine (LPSW4). where 4pk - refers to the belt having 4 ribs and 900 means it is (about) 900mm long. In fact it turns out the OEM part is labelled 4pk913. The original belt as fitted to the engine when we bought the boat was a 'gates' and as others have stated they have a good reputation. The automotive one I used was from 'dayco' who also seem well thought off. It seems to me I can pay over the odds for an 'genuine' part, (£25) buy exactly the same thing from reputable suppliers/manufactuers for about £10 (gates/dayco off fleabay) or buy a seemlingly similiar product direct from the far east (probably the same factory) for less than £4.... Perversely I always buy genuine oil/air/fuel filters accepting that I pay slightly over the odds but safe in the knowledge they are exactly right and the 'premium' is not enough to warrant the effort of finding the eqivalents from the likes of crossland/coopers/fram etc... might have to reconsider that now...

Dean I very much doubt that was the 'Skipton' based company - but might have been one based a bit further east. I can speak from personal experience that pennine cruisers at skipton meet their hirers at the first set of locks and give them practical tuition. As opposed to another company based at silsden who merely provide a 'DVD'.... A fact with which one of their directors was unaware until SWMBO made it him very aware of it earlier in the year whilst sharing a lock... I'm talking about 'proper' hire boats not day boats of course... back to the topic - any news did the locks re-open today ?

so my alternator drive belt shredded recently - it had been showing signs of wear and I had a spare ready, it just parted company slighlty earlier than I expected. no drama fitted my spare. I then went to order a replacement the 'genuine' spare was some £18+VAT+P&P =£25 quid this is for a 4 peak ribbed belt of 900mm length its only driving a 70A alt so not massively loaded. a quick search on ebay and a 4Pk900 belt £3.82 delivered form Hong kong. - so gave that a punt. got both here and I can't really see any difference, i'd like to think that the OEM part is maybe made of better materials but they both look and feel the same ? at that rate I could replace it every year for 6 years and still be better off or am I missing something ? is this just another example of the 'marine premium' - just add a nought for the word 'marine' ?

I bet you can't get them new now due to the environmental risk - I'm not sure what the electrolyte is but I bet it wouldn't be good if it got into a canal. (not that that should stop them being used - just saying)

I see it's possible to buy LEDs to replace 500 watt halogen yard lights now.... yep - got a 10w LED for about £15 which i use as a dusk/dawn secuirty light replacing various CFL units so far its brilliant and at 10w uses even less than the 2 x 25w CFL's it replaced. its at least as good as a 150W halogen. at the rate the price are dropping the larger (I've seen up to 70WLED) will soon be realistic replacements for halogen floods. (sadly I remember what a step forward they were too...)

might be worth playing with canalplan website - set your start and finishing points as Anderton and see how far you could get in the time you have and with 5/6 hours cruising a day. are hire boats allowed to use the anderton lift/go on the weaver ?

i don't think the stoppage/restriction is going to affect you then is it as i don't think it affect locks after the leigh branch ? (towards liverpool)